Upcoming events:

October 1, 2011 - The Local Authors Booth will be open again during the "Fair on the Square" in Huntsville, TX.

We have several local authors set up for this book signing event. Their names and book titles will be released a little later. Visit booth 116. 

An interview with the author: Jeff Cross

What was your first book?

You and Your New Home.

Why did you decide to write this book?

As a municipal building inspector, I began receiving numerous calls from folks outside of my jurisdiction. They were asking me to perform inspections on homes they were building and were concerned that their builders were cutting corners. Since I couldn't do both my job and their work as well, I decided to convey the information to them by writing this book. There are a lot of builders and remodelers out there that have lost the trust of their customers.

Will this book stop builders from cutting corners?

No, but it can educate a homeowner enough to recognize when there are problems. It is usually inconsistencies that draw ones attention. Uniform construction and repetitive work practices tend to allow laborers to install work rather than craftsmen. I mean with repetition, any one gets better but the training and experiance that was passed down over the ages aren't there anymore. Threrfore, I focus on the common practices and the most common oversights made.

How have you made this book user friendly?

Photos. New home construction is pretty much similar where ever you go. There are differences due to regional weather, seismic activity and other things, but over all building material availability dictates most construction methods. Mistakes are easily photographed and discussed as the construction progresses. Local builders have been very helpful in allowing me to pass this information on as well as photos shared by building inspectors around the country.

Who was this book written for?

Originally it was written for those buying a new home or those who have property they intend on building on. As I said before, individuals were looking for a building inspector out of my jurisdiction. What surprised me was the fact that I get more inquries from home builders than home owners. Many builders are using this book to check their subcontractors.

What other books have you written?

I've published several fiction short stories. A couple of fables, well, modern fables to be more accurate. A fantasy adventure dealing with teenagers and how they viewed magic. Some short stories to help parents connect with their children. I've addressed things like bragging and bullying and such. Learning from a story has always been a great way to open conversations with a child.

Wow, such a plethora of subjects. Tell what made you write the first fiction book.

"In a Beginning There was Majik" was my first fiction story. I've told stories all my life and, through the urging of my wife, I finally wrote one down. When I started, I intended it to be just a short story. I soon realized it was going to grow much bigger. After several months I knew it was going to have to be a series. The second edition is very near finished and I expect it may be out soon.

What about your childrens stories?

I've recently released "Joshua's Collection". This is a small collection of short stories about a boy named Joshua and his three brothers. They are growing up in the Great Depression and learning about life the hard way.

These stories are designed short to help with short attention spans. They have a moral at the end of each story and they are written in a way that allows a child to ask questions during the story. It is very important to talk to a child when you read. I use stories to enhance teaching my grandchildren high moral values.

Books written by Jeff Cross

• You and Your New Home

• In a Beginning There was Majik

• The Forester's Helper

• The Fruit Tree

• Joshua's Collection